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Avalanche Awareness Worksheet

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Avalanche Awareness Worksheet

Avalanche Awareness Worksheet

Mountain avalanche scene

🏔️ Part 1: Types of Avalanches

1. Match each avalanche type to its correct description by drawing lines:
1. Slab Avalanche
2. Loose Snow Avalanche
3. Wet Snow Avalanche
A. Starts at a single point and flows down
B. Broken, cohesive snow slabs slide suddenly
C. Snow melts and slides in warmer conditions
2. Which type of avalanche is considered the most dangerous? Circle your answer:

Slab Avalanche

Loose Snow Avalanche

Wet Snow Avalanche

📏 Part 2: Avalanche Sizes and Impact

3. Fill in the missing information about avalanche sizes:

Size 1: _________ of tonnes of snow - Damage potential: _________________

Size 2: _________ of tonnes of snow - Can bury a person or damage _________

Size 3: _________ of tonnes of snow - Destroys small _________________

Size 4: _________ of thousands or more tonnes - Causes major _________ and _________

4. Rank the avalanche sizes from least to most dangerous (1-4):

Size 1: _____ Size 2: _____ Size 3: _____ Size 4: _____

5. Which avalanche size could potentially bury a person? Check all that apply:

Size 1

Size 2

Size 3

Size 4

🔍 Part 3: Checking Avalanche Risk in New Zealand

6. List two sources where you can check current avalanche risk in New Zealand:
7. When should you check avalanche conditions? Circle the best answer:

Only during winter months

Before any outdoor mountain activity

Only if you see snow on the mountains

Once per month during ski season

8. True or False: Avalanche risk can change daily based on weather conditions.

True

False

🤔 Part 4: Critical Thinking and Application

9. Explain why it's important to check avalanche risk before outdoor activities in New Zealand's mountains:
10. You're planning a skiing trip to Mount Ruapehu next weekend. List three things you should do to prepare for avalanche safety:
11. How might this avalanche knowledge affect your behaviour during outdoor activities? Reflect on your personal safety:

🎯 Part 5: Scenario Analysis

12. Read the scenario and answer the questions:

Sarah and her friends want to go backcountry snowboarding in the Southern Alps. The weather has been warm for three days, followed by heavy snowfall overnight. They haven't checked any avalanche reports.

a) What type of avalanche risk might be present after warm weather followed by new snow?
b) What should Sarah and her friends do before heading out?
c) If the avalanche risk is rated as "High", what should they do?

Go anyway but be extra careful

Postpone the trip until conditions improve

Only ski on gentle slopes

Go but stay close to the ski resort

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